Appreciate feedback on gas fireplaces being Vented versus Non-Vented. Having heard the non-vented has been banned from 13 states & Canada (do not recall source), I am now confronted with this decision! Will use propane as natural gas is not available. I am not comfortable with the idea of non-vented even though it does provide more heat efficiency (around 99%) but cuts off when reaching set temperature (so much for the aesthetics) …whereas the vented is only 80% (perhaps safer?). Use will be primarily for enjoyment as well as emergency heat source yet will not be often or long.
Receiving more dealer recommendations to go non-vented (only 1 recommends vented) & wonder if this may be because of “surplus” non-vented stoves on the market. Direct vent, fairly new on the market, is available, but only 1 dealer recommended Direct Vent though on display at all locations.
What is your experience & why? Where might I find why the non-vented has been banned in so many locales? Evidently did not key in the right words to get a pop on Google!
Replies
In general, a non-vented unit should be considered to be purely cosmetic. But might suffice as an emergency heat source in TN. Would never consider it here in MN.
All units built in the past 15 years or so are supposed to include a feature (part of the pilot light or igniter design) that will shut them down if the oxygen in the room gets depleated (the thing that might cause them to produce CO). But you should have a separate CO detector just in case.
Also, non-vented units will produce a lot of humidity. May or may not be a good thing, depending on how "tight" the house is.
Finally located a few sites addressing problem of non-vented gas fireplace. Cannot explain why previous searches did not produce the following:
http://http://www.chimneysweepsonline.com (totally negative)
http://http://www.firstcoastnews.com/printfullstory.aspx?storyid=32559 (negative)
http://www.ventfreealliance.org/gas_products/page5.htm (negative)
http://www.consumerreports.org/main/detailv4.jsp?CONTENT%3C%3Ecnt_id=381559 (caution)
Above is enough to convince me that non-vented is definitely not the way to go; now to convince my better half! THANKS!
Yes, new home will be tight - well insulated as it can get cold here a few days a year. Humidity problems appeared often in previously mentioned sites.
What truly got me was all the "Soot" mess. I somewhat expected a bit of grease just based upon what I have seen in my parents home with natural gas (mirrors, etc.) The "Soot" is definitely not something I can live with.
Thanks for your input!
I have one of the non-vented natural gas log sets. We use it mainly for cosmetics occasionally in the winter, but it does throw off a lot of heat. I presume it also throws off a lot of humidity, but in Boise, Idaho in the winter having extra humidity is a good thing. House built in the '60's, so not very tight and although I do have a CO alarm, I've never worried about it due to this fact. --Ken
Sadie,
I didnt go through the links, but have heard the Monoxide warning, and recently that studies have shown an increased link to asthma.
-zen